What is a Conservation Easement?
Conservation Easements are most often used on Montana ranch land and recreational/sporting properties. Basically, it is a Deed Restriction placed on a property to preserve its scenic attributes and its open space. It allows you to continue to own the property, while engaging in agriculture and protecting wildlife habitat and protecting open land. However, you give up your rights to subdivide, for perpetuity. You can also give up rights to mine for minerals or harvest timber or a number of other private property rights. For this donation, you are allowed a charitable contribution to be taken off of your Federal and Montana Tax Returns.
Land Trust Organizations
The 4 most active Land Trust Organizations in Montana that foster Conservation Easements are:
PO Box 355
324 Fuller Avenue
Helena, MT 59624
(406) 443-7027
www.mtlandreliance.org
PO Box 8249
2291 W. Broadway
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 523-4500
(800) 225-5355
www.rmef.org
To learn more about Conservation Easements and these Organizations, give them a call or click on their logo to visit their website.
